The Stuarts8pm, BBC2

Dr Clare Jackson presents this new series about "the first family of Great Britain". When Elizabeth I died without an heir, her distant cousin James VI of Scotland inherited her lands – all with their own histories of conflict – and set about trying to unite them. While the film-makers do some striking work with slowed-down footage of snorting horses, Jackson reveals the nature of James through his Basilikon Doron, a treatise on government. The upshot? Try and keep a middle course between Papists and Puritans. John Robinson

This Old Thing: The Vintage Clothes Show8pm, Channel 4

Last in the series where retro-headed Dawn O'Porter tries to persuade a reluctant member of the public that vintage clothing is a wardrobe gift, rather than a mouldy adversary. She's got her work cut out this week with Lucie, who never ventures far from the high street and already has more clothes than one woman can handle. But with an upcoming holiday to Ibiza, can Dawn work her magic? On the tip front, tonight sees a home-made dress and repairs to a moth-eaten jacket. Hannah Verdier

The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway9pm, BBC2

Third and final instalment of this inevitably fascinating inside view of the stupendous – and, as the title acknowledges, stupendously expensive – Crossrail project, which necessitates burrowing 21 kilometres of new tunnels under London. Tonight's episode focuses on the vast new station for Canary Wharf, some of which has to be built underwater. Furthermore, digging beneath London occasionally sees Crossrail's engineers confronted with grisly reminders of the city's past. Andrew Mueller

The Mimic10pm, Channel 4

Martin's got a new job and his 40th birthday is approaching. New girlfriend Harriet starts to rub Jean up the wrong way with the preparations, and it feels like someone is a bit jealous. Particularly as Harriet has set Martin up a meeting with a new agent, too. Soon he's locking horns with the leathery Nigel Lord (a marvellous cameo from John Thomson), the agency's other mimic who's keen to size Martin up. Meanwhile, Neil starts seeing a psychoanalyst about his paranoia. Ben Arnold

Inquisition9pm, Yesterday

Episode three of this look at historic persecution and religious fanaticism begins in the mid-1500s, when Henry VIII's religious conversion sparked intense conflict between Catholics and Protestants. The focus isn't on Henry, however, as the story quickly jumps to his offspring, Catholic queen "Bloody Mary" and Protestant half-sister Elizabeth I. Atmospheric reconstructions and school trip-style patter from Most Haunted's Richard Felix are tempered with historical info from experts Ronald Hutton and Alison Rowlands. Hannah J Davies

Sharknado 2: The Second One2.15am, Syfy

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Nope, it's a tornado. Of ferocious, man-eating sharks. The disaster B-movie now has a sequel and the taglines say it all: originally "Enough Said!"; now simply "The Second One". While LA felt the full wrath of the tornado last time around, it's now the Big Apple that needs saving. With elements borrowed from Snakes on A Plane and The Day After Tomorrow, watch if you're a fan of unrealistic gore and the idea of a starring appearance from seasoned shark-slayer Tara Reid. Repeated 9pm on Thursday.

Football: Manchester City v Liverpool 12midnight, Sky Sports 1

The World Cup ignited the imagination of the US in ways unseen since they hosted it in 1994. Will Ferrell threatened to bite every US opponent, Tim Howard's face was carved into Mount Rushmore, and Ann Coulter described it as "anti-American". Now the Premier League continues the charm offensive at Yankee Stadium with two of our biggest exports playing a pre-season game. After a taxing World Cup, both will probably rest many of their big names. Lanre Bakare